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Benno Hansen's List: Genetics

The Ethical Atheist: The Language Gene

www.ethicalatheist.net/...language-gene_18.html - Preview

foxp2 genetics speech language on 2008-08-26
- Language is the cumulative corollary of a multitude of genes.
  
  A gene known as FoxP2, however, plays a very important role in the development of language. Mutations in this gene are associated with a condition known as developmental verbal dyspraxia (DVD)
- the research team created a viral vector known as shFoxP2. shFoxP2 was injected into the zebra finch on the 23rd day after hatching. Once shFoxP2 was injected, it integrated with the host's DNA and was thusly expressed throughout the birds life. The purpose of shFoxP2 was to lower the expression of the FoxP2 gene in Area X
- 6 more annotations...
- - In shFoxP2 injected pupils, syllables were out of order and some were too haphazard for the computer to identify as the same syllable sung by the tutor.
  - the acoustic structure is far more variable again the birds infected with shFoxP2
  - birds injected with shControl have an almost indistinguishable variability in their song from the variability in the song of tutors
  - shFoxP2 birds have a much more variable duration of their syllables
  - the FoxP2 gene plays an important role in song imitation in zebra finches
  - It would be interesting to see whether "dysparxic song" is percieved as different by other finches and interferes with communication, as DVD does in humans. Considering that female songbirds prefer males with well-learned songs, this is what is to be expected.
Mutant Corn Calls for Rescue When Killers Attack

news.nationalgeographic.com/...090803-mutant-corn.html - Preview

mutant allelopathy plant biology biology genetic engineering on 2009-08-04 and saved by 3 people
Women are getting more beautiful - Times Online

www.timesonline.co.uk/...article6727710.ece - Preview

women men sex reproduction homo sapiens evolution natural selection on 2009-08-05 and saved by 8 people
- beautiful women had up to 16% more children
- good-looking parents were far
  more likely to conceive daughters. He suggested this was an evolutionary
  strategy subtly programmed into human DNA.
- 3 more annotations...
- - women were generally regarded by both sexes as more
    aesthetically appealing than men
  - the most attractive
    parents were 26% less likely to have sons
  - For women, looks are much less important in a man than his ability to look
    after her when she is pregnant and nursing, periods when women are
    vulnerable to predators. Historically this has meant rich men tend to have
    more wives and many children. So the pressure is on men to be successful.

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Benno Hansen

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Updated on 2009-08-05
Created on 2008-08-26

Category: Science

genetics evolution speech bioinformatics

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Benno Hansen's List: Genetics

The Ethical Atheist: The Language Gene

Mutant Corn Calls for Rescue When Killers Attack

Women are getting more beautiful - Times Online

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